Attachment for automatic scales.



No. 823,599. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906. G. HOEPNER.

ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMATIC SCALES.

APPLICATION FILED HOV. 22,1905.

H.031? 5% .llm fl M A 77'0HNEY3 WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HOEPNER, OF SANDWICH, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO E. AND T. FAIRBANKS AND COMPANY, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT, A COR- PORATION OF VERMONT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1906.

Application filed embe 22, 1905. Serial No. 288,580.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOEPNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Dekalb, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Automatic Scales, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to automatic weighing-machines of that general type in which the flow of grain or other material being weighed is controlled by primary and secondary gates, both of which are open until the load in the receiver is nearly complete, after which the primary or main gate is automatically closed and a small stream is allowed to flow through the secondary gate until the load is complete, said secondary gate being then closed and the load dumped from the receiver.

The principal object of the invention is to arrest downward movement of the scalebeam or similar moving part that is affected by the weight of material accumulating in the receiver, after such part is started into motion, to the end that the primary or main gate may be closed at the proper time.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a positive upward movement of the poise end of the beam as soon as the load is suiiicient to start the beam into motion, and, further, to accelerate this movement so that the momentum acquired will be sufficient to trip the holding devices of said gate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for automatically and positively locking the beam in its elevated position and preventing return thereof to its point of rest until the parts are readjusted, an operation which may be accomplished either manually or automatically.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of elements, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the ap ended claims.

' n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the poise end of the scale beam or lever of an automatic weighing-machine provided with a lockin device constructed 1n accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the beam or lever elevated to the position necessary to close the primary or main gate and illustrating the locking device in position thereunder; and Fig. 4 is an end view of the same, showing the lever in section.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The poise end of the scale beam or lever c is shown as extending through a slotted bracket a and provided with a knife-edge d, on which is hung a stem 6, carrying the counterpoise The lower portion of the bracket a is provided with bearings for the reception of a shaft h, to which is secured an arm Z, carrying at its inner end an antifriction-roller g, that bears against the lower edge of the beam. At a point outside the bracket is secured a weighted arm 7c, the weight of which is opposed to that of the arm and roller. To the extreme end of the shaft is secured a lever i, having a handle I), the weight of which is also opposed to that of the arm Z.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, both gates are open and the scale beam or lever is in its lowest position. As soon as the load in the receiver is sufficient to start the beam into motion the weight of the arm 7c and the lever i will raise the arm Z, the roller traveling along under the edge of the beam until the parts assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, at which time the primary or main gate w ill be closed, while the axis of the roller g w ill be slightly in advance of the vertical plane of the axis of shaft h, so that the scale-beam is positively locked in its elevated position. This movement of the arm I further accelerates the operation of the scale-beam, and the momentum thus acquired is sufficient to insure positive movement of the gate-tripping devices and renders the operation of the scale uniform and accurate. To trip the secondary or final gate, the beam receives a second upward movement to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 3. In order to accomplish a second weighing opera tion, it is necessary to lower the arm Z, and this may be accomplished manually by means of the lever i, or any suitable automatic mechanism may be employed for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what 7 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. In a weighing-scale, a scale beam or lever, the counterpoise end of which is arranged during each operation to move upward under a primary load at the load end and to complete its upward movement under a final or complete load, and means for preventing the return of the beam after completing its initial movement.

2. In a weighing-scale, a scale beam or lever, and means operating to accelerate its movement as the lever moves from its point of rest and operating with gradually-increased force from the beginning of the movement of the scale-beam; substantially as described.

3. In a weighing-scale, a scale beam or lever, and a counterweighted means acting to raise the poise end of said beam and to lock the same from return movement; substantially as described.

4. In a weighing-scale, a scale beam or lever, and means arranged at the poise end of the beam and acting throughout the Whole of the initial weighing movement, as an auxiliary to the load in raising the poise end of the beam and serving to prevent the return movement of said beam to its position of rest; substantially as described.

5. In a weighing-scale, a scale beam or lever, a bracket, a shaft j ournaled therein, an arm carried by the shaft and having an antifriction-roller resting against the lower edge of the beam, a weighted arm secured to the shaft, and tending to rock the latter and raise the arm, and a restoring-lever secured to said shaft substantially as described.

6. In a weighing-scale, a scale beamor lever', and means tending to overcome the inertla of the lever and accelerate lts movement during the initial Weighing movement thereof and serving also to prevent return movement.

of said beam or lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

G. F. SEDGWIOK, JOHN E. WHITE. 

